"And the 6th angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the waters thereof were dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and of the beast and of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon (aka Har Megiddo)."
This prophecy of a great worldwide battle one day has been greatly misunderstood by millions of people over the last 2,000 yrs. First of all, it is not the "final battle, to end all battles." That final battle does not come until the end of the Millennial reign of Christ, when Satan is let out of the bottomless pit/prison and he brings the world against the camp of the Saints at Jerusalem. It is, also, not a world war amongst mankind's armies. Rather it is a specific battle that hinges the forces of the Beast against the forces of Jesus and against the remnants of His church, the House of Israel, the elect of God, at a placed in Israel called in the Hebrew tongue.... Har Megiddo........but called in the Greek....Armageddon!
Megiddo is an ancient city site in the northern region of Israel on a hill/mount near the valley of Jezreel. It was believed to have been first settled by the Caananites before the time of the flood around the time of Noah's birth, circa 3100 BC. It is across the valley from another important spot, a little town called Nazareth. It carries a lot of history with it, and has been controlled by various empires throughout history. It's importance in the near future will become self-evident as the most likely spot for a settlement of the church under the direction of the two witnesses of God, Revelation 11. Under the power of the Spirit of God, these two will be important in the calling out of those of the church of Philadelphia, and of the House of Israel, which is to be called back to the promised land during these days to be reunited with the House of Judah, which has already been called back. (circa 1800 to date) This will fulfill many old testament prophecies about the return of the Israelites to the promised land.
The Beast of the book of Revelation will make war with the two witnesses (Rev. 11). At the death of the two witnesses, at the hand of the Beast, many will be taken to heaven with them, as they are those who have gotten victory over the Beast and over his name and over the number of his name, AND who have come totally out of Babylonian religions. This is the second major rapture during these end times. Many who have accepted their true witness, but were unable to come out of Babylon, will remain and be cast into the winepress of the wrath of God, the Seventh trumpet! It will sound, shortly after the two witnesses and the church of Philadelphia are taken, along with the Holy Spirit, out of the way. Those who will repent of their Babylonian ways will be called to this place in the wilderness of men, prepared by Dios, the two witnesses and others, to a placed called in the Hebrew tongue.... Har Megiddo, but in English...Mount Megiddo.
During the war with the Beast, the two witnesses will be backed up into Jerusalem, and it will be "encompassed with armies." Then the two witnesses are killed by the Beast and their bodies lie in the streets of Jerusalem for 3 1/2 days; most of the world will rejoice over their deaths; and the Beast will go into the temple (which the two witnesses had built) and declare himself god/king of the earth, which is the fulfillment of the "abomination of desolation." Those in Judea who know the prophecy will flee to the "mountains" (Math 24) , not Petra in Jordan, but to Mount Megiddo in Israel; to a place prepared for them by Dios, via these Two Witnesses.
During the 7th trumpet, the great tribulation, these (left at Megiddo) are part of the elect of God, who for their mere presence on earth, the days will be shortened or all flesh will be lost. (Matthew 24) They will live under the protection of Dios at this place and will be lead by one or two great leaders/prophets (not the two witness/prophets) but another set of powerful men who will take leadership. (Most likely one will be the incarnate Archangel Michael!)
Because they will be relative free and independent from the Beast's worldwide government and religion, toward the end of the 7th Trumpet, Satan will be infuriated by this site and will seek to destroy them. Great evil spirits will come out of the Dragon, the False Prophet and the Beast, to bring the whole world against this tiny place. (Rev. 16) This will set up the third and last rapture of Matthew 24:36-42! Jesus will come (as a thief in the night) for his own and destroy these armies coming against the saints, which is the true battle of Armageddon, and He will cast the false prophet and the Beast into the lake of fire. Also, He will cast Satan into the bottomless pit/prison for a thousand years.
Here, at this time, He will come! With great glory and with His Saints. Here, at the end of the 7th trumpet, He comes.
"Then will all the world see the sign of His coming, in the clouds, with great glory," and " All the tribes of the earth will morn." Then, "All will know that Jesus Christ is Lord!"
The great marriage feast will take place in Heaven. A great judgment of His own people will occur and the first resurrection will take place. The world will be resettled by human beings, under the direction and teachings of the those who will take part in the first resurrection. The earth will be repaired. A great time of peace on earth will ensue, the Millennial Reign of Christ! King David will be a great prince of men again, based at the Millennial temple/city complex of Ezekiel 40-48. A wondrous time will transpire. Jesus and His saints will rule with a rod of iron, but peace and love will triumph over war and hate. Such will be a wondrous time.
Will you be part of this great future? We pray that you have ears to hear, eyes to see and a heart to believe. For the time is at hand. Amen
But, alas, Satan will get out of his prison at the end of that time, and finally incarnate into the flesh. Then, will the final battle on earth come to pass. God bless!